dearest transatlantic peers,
how goest thou circumscribing advents or perculiarity and perpendicualtiy.
mine eyes developest to decieve not my perfuctery perceptions or is thou
pastry currently combusting. . . . . . . (that is really really really old
british for how are my friends from home doing, and that i know my crumpet
has exploded) so in other less ridiculous and much more pertinent news i had
my first zone conference this week! it was soooooooo coool! we had the girl
who played mary in the new bible videos the church has put out speak to us
about her experiences in making the productions and she described what it
was like to try and be how mary would be in all the different events she
portrayed. one thing that really impressed me was she talked about how any
time she plays a part she likes to read everything that the character says
about themselves and everything that was said about that character before
she begins to try and be that part. the problem here is that not much in the
bible actually describes the personality of mary. one phrase however stood
out to her, which is the one where the bible says that "mary took these
things and pondered them in her heart!". so when she began to try and play
the part of mary she always tried to portray her as a ponderer. if you watch
the clip where the angel comes to mary and tell her that she is called to
bear the son of god you can really see how this pondering aspect of mary's
personality helped her and made her able to live up to the great calling
that she was given in life. it made me think about joseph smiths account
about the advents that eventually led him to the sacred grove his words were
"During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious
reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often
poignant" sound familar? it made me think a little bit about how much time
i take to actually ponder. to think about the gospel and how different
principles affect me and those i love and am striving to serve. i feel like
often we forget about pondering, we get caught up in wanted answers about
life's questions and in wanting solutions to our problems that we focus on
the smaller and less important branches when we should be thinking a little
deeper and focusing more on the root. which of course is jesus christ and
his atonement, which is, when we think about, the center of everything we do
in the church and every good development we make in our own lives. the more
i learn about the gospel the more i realize just how simple it is and has
been this entire time. every new thing i learn draws me back around to the
simple truths that the savior taught and his all-encompassing gospel.
i have been out on my mission for just over three months now and i have been
blessed more than i can even begin to tell you guys through e-mail, or even
have the time to record in my journal. there is nothing so rewarding that i
have been through, or experience i could have had that would have been able
to substitute what i have experienced on my mission. this week i experienced
the power of the atonement again and i witnessed miracles. the white family,
who have been less active for over twenty years, have started coming back to
church! they have literally been in the worst places that the world can take
you but they are now on their way back to the receiving the happiness the
gospel entails back into their lives! i'm so proud of them and so humbled by
the faith that they have shown in making this difficult change in their
lives. i'm grateful for the lord for leading me and elder day to this family
that has been and is so ready to change.
i love you all and am grateful for your support!
with love
elder michael jarman
ps. did anyone know that they sell tiger onsies in adult sizes?!
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